Phonograph record



Ma 's, 1928. 1,669,128

C. A. HOXlE PHONOGRAPH RECORD Filed Dec. 1924 Fig.1. N

v Inventor: Charles A. Hoxie,

H is Attor n e9 Patented May 8, 1928, V I UNITED STATES CHARLES ALFBED HOXIE, OF SCHENEGTADY, NEWTYORK, ASSIGNOB TO emrmr.

ELECTRIC COMPANFL'A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

rnoivoenarrr nnconn.

Application filed December 1 1924. Serial No. 758,355.

My invention relates to the makin of phonographJecord's,particularly recor s of sounds produced simultaneously by a plurality of voices or instruments. In making a phonograph record, for example of a musical composition by the players of several instruments of diii'erent character, it has been found that in the reproduction of the record the tones of the several instruments 1 are not always heard in the desired relative proportion. This may be due in part to the distances separating the various instruments from the diaphragm of the recorder and in partto the'angle at which the sound waves from the various, instruments strike the recorder diaphragm. It is an object of my invention to provide for the'making of such a -record in which the tones of the various instruments are combined with any desired rel-- ative value. A further object of my invention-,is to provide a construction in which the relative values at which the tones of the various instruments are recorded may be varied at will.

In carrying out my invention I employ a plurality of separate'transmitters which-can be-individually adjusted and. directed each toward a particular instrument or group of instruments. The varying currents from the 50 several transmitters are amplified and combined to form a resultant varying current which current is caused to actuate the record cutter.

My invention willbe better understood as from the following description taken in connection with the accompanyin drawing, and

its scope will be pointed out 1n the appended claims.

In the drawin Fig. -1 is a diagrammatic representation 0 apparatus embodying my invention and Fig. 2 is a similar illustration of a modification.

In Fig.1, I have shown by way of example three similar groups of apparatus A, B and C, preferably of a portable nature, each com r sing a transmitter 1, an amplifier 2 and a transformer 3. Each of the transmitters -1 comprises the source of light 5, the spherical or condensing-lens 6, the small mirror 7 and actuating mechanism therefor, the

' cylindrical lens B and thephoto-electric cell 9 in front of which is the apertured screen 1 0. ,These transmitters are @similar to that disclosed in my Batent No.'-1,598,377, Aug.

31, 1926 and assigned to the same assignee 'will as the present application. The small mire ror' 7 and its actuating mechanism is like that shown in F' .5 and 6 of my U. S. Patent No. 1,456,!) 5 and comprises the smallrock shaft 11 to which the mirror 7 is attached and a diagram in the base of the horn 12 which'is connected to the rock shaft b a slender rod 13 such that vibrations of the iaphragm due to sound waves impinging thereon cause corresponding rockin movements of the shaft and mirror. The am of light reflected from the mirror is thereby caused to vibrate in accordance-with the Vlbrations of the diaphragm. The cylindrical lens 8 is arranged with its axis in orparallel with the plane of vibration of the reflected beam and the beam passes in part throu h the. opening in the screen 10, being partly o structed by one side of the opening so that as it vibrates, more or less of it enters the photo-electric cell.

' The amplifier 2 is an electron disclfarge device WhlCh as shown in the drawing has three electrodes, namely a filament 15, a grid 16, and a plate 17. The photo-electric 9 is connected in circuit with the batte 18, and the resistance 19. The opposite en of this resistance connect respect vel with the filament 15 and the grid 16. In circuit with the plate 17 is the primar winding 21 of the transformer 3 and the attery 22. The secondary vwindin 23 of the transformer connects with the usses 24 to which is con n'ected the winding of the electromagnetic record cutter represented at 25. In the circuit of the cutter is shown a supervisory telephone set 26connected in shunt with a variable resistance 27. Each of the groups A, B and C has the, terminals of its transformer secondary windin connected with the busses 24, such that t e current variations received by the cutter is the combination of the variations produced by the groups A, B and C. In order that the record of the relative values of the tones affectin the various groups may be variedat uring the cutting operation I have shown by way of example a variable shunt 28 across each secondary 23. Obviously other arrangements may be adopted for 106. varying the relative effect of the various groups. I

i For the sake of simplicity I have illustrated each group having a single amplifier.

I may, however, employ a second amplifier I10 coupled to the first in any well known manner. Where two amplifiers are used I may vary the relative effect of the several groups by varying the amount of resistance in the grid circuit of the second amplifier.

In the modified form illustrated by Fig. 2, where for the sake of simplicity I have shown but two groups and have omitted the transmitters which are understood to be similar to those shown in Fig. 1, I have dispensed with the transformers 3 and completed the plate circuit of the amplifiers 2 through resistances 30. The two ends of each of these resistances are connected to the busses 24, a condenser 31 being shown in the connection with one bus. The record cutter 25 together with the supervisory set 26 and resistance 27 is connected to the busses 24; the same as in Fig; 1.

In the use of my invention to make a phonograph record, for example of the combined effect of several voices or musical instruments, each one of the groups, A, B and C may be arranged to receive the sound of each one of the voices or from each one of the musical instruments. It Will be obvious that the performers in this case need not necessarily be grouped together as heretofore has been the custom, but on the contrary may be separated to whatever extent may be desired. Moreover the transmitter of each group may be given that arrange ment relative to the particular performer With which it is associated which it is found will give the best results. Furthermore, the operator has means under his control for varying at will the relative proportion of the current received by the cutter from each group so that by the use of the supervisory set he is able at all times to combine the effect from each performer in the desired manner entirely independent of the performers.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. The method of making a record of the combined sound from a plurality of separate sources which consists in causing the sound vibrations from each source separate- 1y to produce corresponding variations in light, causing the light variations to produce varying currents,- combining said currents and recording the variations of the combined current.

2. The method of making a record of the combined sound from a plurality of sepa rate sources which consists in causing the sound vibrations from the several sources to roduce variations in a beam of light, causmg the light beam variations to produce separate currents which vary respectively in accordance therewith, amplifying said separate currents without distortion, comblning the amplified currents into a single varying current and cutting a record in accordance with said combined current. 0

3. Apparatus for making a record of the combined sound from a plurality of separate sources comprising a plurality of independently movable transmitters each comprising a photoelectric cell and each adapted to be placed in a position to receive the sound from a separate source, a circuit common to said transmitters, and means for making a record of the current Variations in said common circuit.

4. Apparatus for making a record of the combined sound from a plurality of separate sources comprising a plurality of independent portable transmitters each comprising a photoelectric cell and each adapted to be arranged to receive the sound from a separate source, separate means for amplifying the current variations from each of said transmitters, means for combining the currents from said amplifying means and an electromagnetic record cutter connected to be actuated in accordance with the variations of said combinedcurrent.

5. Apparatus for making a record of the combined sound from a plurality of separate sources comprising a plurality of inde pendently movable transmitters each comprising a photoelectric cell and a mirror for reflecting a beam of light into the cell and each adapted to be placed in a position to receive the sound from a separate source, a record cutter connected in a circuit common to each of the transmitters and means for varying the relative effect received by the cutter from each of the transmitters.

6. Apparatus for making arecord of the combinedsound from a plurality of separate sources comprising a plurality of independent portable transmitters each comprising a photo-electric cell and a sound controlled mirror for reflecting a beam of light into the cell and each adapted to be arranged to receive the sound from a separate source, a separate discharge amplifier connected to each of said transmitters, a circuit common totlie output circuit of each of said amplitiers, an electromagnetic record cutter connected to said common clrcuit, and an ad]ustable shunt across the output circuit of each of the amplifiers for controllingthe relative eflect of each transmitter.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of November, 1924. CHARLES ALFRED 'HOXIE. 

